Categories: friends, parish-life, other-churches
Date: 30 November 2008 03:39:23
Yesterday. Flying, not driving, I hasten to add.
Off to Brisbane to attend the ordination of a friend, whom some of you may know through the Ship of Fools. It was a most joyous, blessed and moving service of the Ordination of Priests. An improptu Maori song from some in the congregation as a Maori deacon who would be made priest processed past was a particularly moving and joyful moment.
But, for me, it was seeing my friend in particular ordained, and also to receive a blessing from her afterwards. I then caught up with a number of other people from the Ship who attended, and we made our way to a reception afterwards where we ate, drank and talked the afternoon away, before it was time for me to head to the airport [a Shipmate friend kindly drove me] to head back to Sydney. As we headed off, a rather large storm hit -- it cleared before my plane took off, though we were delayed getting back into Sydney due to a thunderstorm here.
A blessed and joyous day -- the ordination in particular but also catching up with some friends, and meeting new people, I have not seen for a while. Thanks and praise be to God.
Today, a shorter driving journey -- around 50km return to church. Due to my long day yesterday, I actually slept in until 10am [Matins is at 9am; Liturgy at 10am]. I reached church around 11:10am, as Liturgy was finishing. Oh well. I got to say Hi, and Bye, to all, and wish them all the best for Christmas and the New Year. Given my attendance has been ad-hoc to say the least of late, I was very moved by their kind comments and their joy to see me -- which was nothing compared to the joy I have of seeing and talking to them. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful and loving parish community -- and more than a community, a family. Thanks and praise be to God.